Looms



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1965 E. PFARRWALLER ETAL LOOMS FiledNov. 8, 1962 wn m. )1 4 mm? n n :1 F WW Rc Mn $340 o HMO H w 8 JPN A 3 aW n 3 MW. 4 2 W 0 mt m a A 8 a 2 m Z a ll 3 8 0 2 4 a L 5 5 0 7 5 I E m3: w

Feb. 9, 1965 E. PFARRWALLER ETAL ,168,91

LOOMS Filed Nov. 8, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fly. 3

Jnvenla'rs: ERWIN PFARRWALLER LUCIANO CONT BY ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1965 E.PFARRWALLER ETAL 3,168,911

LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 8, 1962 Jnvenfors: ERWIN PFARRWALLERLUCIANO CONT BY ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1965 E. PFARRWALLER ETAL LOOMS 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 8, 1962 A g ml Jnvenfars: ERWIN PFARRWALLERLUGIANO CONT Feb. 9, 1965 Filed NOV. 8, 1962 o I o E. PFARRWALLER ETALLOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jn venlor's; ERW\N PFARRWALLER LUGIANO CONT 11ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofilice 3,168,911 Patented 1F eh. 9, 19653,168,911 LGGMS Erwin Pfarrwaller, Winterthur, and Luciano Cont,Utterwintcrthur, Switzerland, assignors to Suizer Freres, SocieteAnonyrne, Winterthur, Switzerland, a Swiss company Filed Nov. 8, rsez,$81. No. zaesra Claims priority, application Switzerland Nov. lltl, 196i9 Claims. (43!. 139-122) This invention relates to looms of the kindhaving a framework (herein termed a creel) supporting a plurality ofweft spools which remain outside the shed during weaving, the creelusually being at one side of the loom.

In a known loom of this kind the creel is rigidly secured to the loomframe.

According to the present invention in a loom of the kind specified thecreel is hinged to the loom frame so as to be pivotable after the styleof a door together with the weft bobbins.

The hinge axis is preferably vertical or nearly vertical.

For overhaul of the loom the creel no longer has to be removed and thenre-fitted, but instead it can easily be swung aside (opened) and afteroverhaul be swung back into position (closed). Various parts of the loomsituated behind or beneath the creel are thus very quickly accessible,for example heddle driving mechanism such as a card dobby or a cammechanism, a shuttle picking unit, thread tensioners, thread brakes,weft thread feeder .and pull-back devices co-operating with the shuttlesand which, particularly in the case of a multiple colour loom, consistof a large number of parts and heddle turnback mechanism for use afterweft thread breakage. In the open position, the creel takes uprelatively little space, less than a creel which has been removed from aknown loom when such creel stands beside the loom and constitutes anobstacle to the weaver. Furthermore, in many cases the creel need beswung away only to a smaller extent than the maximum possible pivotingarc.

In one form of the invention intended more particularly for multi-weftlooms having, for example, four or eight weft spools, the creel consistsof two symmetrically arranged halves which can be swung apart after thestyle of a two-leaf door. The open creel then requires ery little spacein the vicinity of the loom because the pivoting arc of each half of thecreel is correspondingly reduced as compared to a creel pivoted as awhole. In some cases only one half of the creel need be swung aside foroverhaul purposes.

Some specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by wayof example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a four-Weft loom embodying one form of theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view, looking from the left in FIGURE 1, on a largerscale;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in FIG- URE 2 with the creelclosed;

FIGURE 4 is a corresponding plan view with the creel open;

FIGURE 5 is a side view, corresponding to FIGURE 2, of anotherembodiment;

FIGURE 6 is a detail of FIGURES 2 to 5 on a larger scale;

FIGURE 7 is a side view, corresponding to FIGURES 2 and 5, of a furtherembodiment; and l FIGURES 8 and 9 are plan views of details of differentconstructions, shown partly in section.

The general view in FIGURE 1 shows only the most important parts of theloom. The loom frame consists essentially of the two side frame membersI, 2 and a cross member 3 connecting them together. Between the two sideframe members 1, 2 are mounted a cloth beam 5 which carries the cloth 4shown in chain-dotted lines and a breast beam 6. Three sley brackets 3,9, II are also shown and carry a sley (not shown) together with a reedand a shuttle guide, which latter consists of a plurality of teeth whichcan penetrate the warp. The brackets 8, 9, 11 are disposed on the crossmember 3 and are connected together by a flat member 7 on which otherparts are disposed.

At the top of the side frame member 1 is mounted a picking unit 12,while a shuttle catching unit 13 is disposed at the top of the sideframe member 2, the shuttles introducing the weft into the shed. Theheddles are denoted by reference 14. On the right of FIGURE 1 isdisposed the main loom drive. It consists of an electric motor 15, aV-belt drive 16 and a combined clutch and brake 17.

At the left-hand side of the loom in FIGURE 1, at the bottom, a heddledriving mechanism 13 is disposed, for example a card'dobby or a cammechanism. Above the mechanism 18 is the creel, which in FIGURE 1 hasbeen given the general reference 19 for eight Weft spools 314$. FIGURES2 to 5 also show the warp beam 21.

The creel 19 as shown in FIGURES l to 3 consists essentially of twovertical hinge rods 22, 23 to which are secured curved support rails 24and 25 respectively, and to which a number of pieces of felt 3d areglued to prevent the weft thread ends from rubbing on the meal rails.Vertical rods 26, 27 are disposed on the rails 24, 25. Horizontaladjustable supporting arms 28 are secured to the rods 22, 23, 26, 27 andon these arms are held the Weft spools 31 to d8.

Each pair of spools 31, 32; 33, 34; 35', 36; 37, 38 respectivelydisposed one above the other in FIGURE 2, have threads of the samecolour. Assuming, for example, that the weft threads are being drawnfirst off the top spools, the inner end of the thread of the top spoolof a pair is connected to the outer end of the thread of the bottomspool of the pair so that after the top bobbin has been used up thebottom one comes into operation. Each pair of spools is disposed insidea horseshoe-shaped shield 41, d2; 45, 44 respectively, which shieldspreferably are made of transparent plastic material and by means ofwhich the balloon of thread occurring during the unwinding of the fourweft threads 45 to 58 shown in chain-dotted lines in FIGURES 3 and 4, isprevented from touching the adjacent ballons and other parts of theloom. The four shields 41 to are securedto the curved rails 24, 25.-

The two rods 22, 23 are rotatable in bearing cups5l, 52 in horizontalsupporting brackets 53, 54 fitted to the side frame member 1. Near thetop the rods 22, 23 are provided with sleeves 55, 56 which, when thecreel 19 is removed from the loom, are slidable along the rods 22, 23 inthe region 459. In FIGURE 6 the sleeve is shown on an enlarged scale.Each sleeve has a knurled head 71!. The lower parts 55a of the sleevesenter recesses in retaining brackets 57, 53 which are secured to theside frame member 1, or to some other stationary part of the loom and inwhich they are rotatable together with the rods 22, 23. In the securedposition of the sleeve shown in FIGURE 6, a shoulder 72 on the sleeverests on the bracket 57. At the front in FIGURE 6, the bracket 57 has anopening 73 forming the mouth of the recess. The diameter of the sleevepart 55a is larger than the width of the opening 73 while the diameterof the rod 22 is smaller than the width of the opening '73.

threadtensioners 62 and other fixed eyes 63 to the picking unit 12, fromwhich they are inserted into the shed by the shuttles.

The creel 19 is made in two halves 64, 65 (FIGURES 3 and 4). The half ascomprises the parts 22, 24, 41, 42 and the spools and holding elementsdisposed therein, While the half 65 comprises the parts 23, 25, 44, 43and the spools and holding elements disposed therein. The halves d4, 65are adapted to be swung away from the side frame member 1 about the axesof the rods 22, 23 as shown by the arrows as, 67. The creel is thushinged to the loom frame 1, 2, 3 about vertical hinge axes (the rods22., 23).

In FIGURE 3 the creel 19 is closed and is locked by a catch 68. In thisposition a pin 69 disposed on an angle member 82 (FIGURE 8) of one half65 enters a corresponding hole in an angle member 81 of the other half64 so that the facing ends of the two halves 64, as of the creel arekept at the same height.

In FIGURE 4 the two halves 64, as have been swung away from the sideframe member l and the creel is open.

In this position both the heddle driving mechanism 13 and the variousparts 61-63 outside the picking unit 19., the picking unit itself andthe other parts (not shown) of the four-weft thread feed system areimmediately accessible. For this purpose the two creel halves 64, asneed only be in the semi-open position shown in FIGURE 4, but they canbe swung out further if required.

In the example shown in FIGURE 9, a vertical fixed post 33 connected tothe side frame member 1 is disposed between the two creel halves 64, 65and the two halves of the creel in the locked position shown in FIGURE 9bear against this post. In this position pins as on each of the twocreel halves enter a hole 84 in the post 33. Each half also has a latch68a, 65b respectively. These are slipped over two pins 35 fastened tothe post 33.

When the creel is to be removed from the supporting brackets 53, 54 andthe retaining brackets 57, 58, the sleeevs 55, as are slid upwards inFIGURES 2 and 6 until their bottom par 55a are clear of the brackets 57,5'3.

The two creel halves d4, 65 can then be lifted upwards and outwards sothat the hinge rods move out through the openings 73 and their lowerends come out of the bearing cups Sll, 52.' The procedure is reversed toreplace the creel. 1

In the embodiment shown in FEGURE 5 the heddle driving mechanism 18' isdisposed above the creel 64, 65 and is fitted to. a bracket 26. In thiscase the weft thread feed parts at to 63 and the four-weft feedmechanism are not accessible at all when the creel is closed, so thehinged creel of the present invention affords a big advantage.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 7, the loom frame has wedge-shapedfeet 86, 87 of unequal height so that the loom is tilted forwards. Thehinge rods 22, 23 of the creel 64, 65 are also inclined correspondingly.In this way the parts near the inserted weft thread are more easilyaccessible to the weaver.

In further embodiments, only four spools, for example, are held in thecreel, i.e., two arranged one above the other in each half of the creelfor example. The loom is then adapted forv Weaving with only twocolours. Moreover, in the case of a single-colour loom, the creelcomprising two weft spools arranged one above the other and with, forexample, afiat shield between the spools, may be adapted'to piovt awayfrom the loom frame about a single axis, for example an axiscorresponding to that of the hinge rod 22. A construction of this kindwith only a single, preferably vertical, hinge axis is also poshas aradius corresponding substantially to the distance 7 between the twohinge'rod axes 22, '23 in FIGURES 2 to 5. The creel may also be disposedhigher-on the loom,

for example above the parts 61, 62, 63 and 12.

It vw'll be understood that the foregoing description rality of warpthreads extending intermediate the warp and cloth beams, a creelcomprising two vertical hinge rods positioned adjacent to one side ofsaid loom frame, a horizontal support rail rigidly connected to each ofsaid hinge rods and defining therewith a creel section, a plurality ofsupporting arms for mounting individually upon each arm a weft spool,said arms each being connected to one of said rails, abearing cupconnected to alower portion of said loom frame for receiving the lowerend of each of said hinge rods, a sleeve slidable upon an upper portionof each of said rods, a retaining bracket secured to the side of saidloom frame to hold each of said sleeves, a respective set of saidbearing cups, hinge rods, sleeves and retaining brackets comprisinghinge elements per- 'ng swinging movement of each of said creel sectionstoward an operating position with respect to the loom and away from saidposition to permit access to the loom, and means for interlocking saidcreel sections in adjoining relation when in said operating position.

2. A loom according to claim 1 in which each of said creel sectionsincludes a plurality of vertical-walled horseshoe-shaped shield membersattached to and supported by said rails, said shield members havingtheir open ends in surrounding relation to each of said spools, eachofsaid shields defining an opening for the passage of thread from saidspool to said shuttle, one hield of each of said creel sections beingadjacently positioned in the operating position of the loom, and pinmeans interconnecting the adjacently positioned shield members.

3. A loom comprising a frame for the support of warp threads, aplurality of weft thread spools, and means to support said spools, saidsupport means including acreel comprising two vertical hinge rodspositioned adjacent to one side of said loom frame, a horizontal supportrail rigidly connected to each of said hinge rods and defining therewitha creel section, a plurality of supporting arms for mountingindividually upon each arm a weft spool, said arms each being connectedto one of said rails, a

caring cup connected to a lower portion of said loom frame for r ceivingthe lower end of each of said hinge rods, a sleeve slidableupon an upperportion of each of said rods, a retaining bracket secured to the sideofsaid loom frame to hold each of said sleeves, a respective set of saidbearing cups, hinge rods, sleeves and retaining brackets comprisinglnnge' elements permitting swinging movement of each of said creelsections toward an operating position with respect to the loom and awayfrom said operating position to permit access to the loom, and means forinterlocking said creel sections in adjoining relation when in saidoperating position.

4. in combination with a loom which includes a frame for supporting aheddle, a reed, a shuttle, and warp and cloth beams, wherein movement ofsaid heddle defines a shed for the insertion of a weft threadtherethrough by transverse movement of the shuttle with respect to apinrality of warp threads extending intermediate the warp and clothbeams, a creel comprising two vertical hinge rods positioned adjacent toone side of said loom frame,

a horizontal support rail rigidly connected to each of said. hinge rodsand defining therewith a creel section, a plurality of supporting armsfor mounting individually upon each arm a weft spool, said arms eachbeing connected to one of said rails, a bearing cup' connected to alower portion of said loom frame for receiving the lower end of each ofsaid hingerods, a sleeve slidable upon an upper portion of each of saidrods, a retaining bracket secured to the side of said loom frame to holdeach of said sleeves, a respective set of said bearing cups, hinge rods,sleeves and retaining brackets comprising hinge elements permittingswinging movement of each of said creel sections toward an operatingposition with respect to the loom and away from said operating positionto permit access to the loom, each of said brackets defining a recessfor the reception of a sleeve and an opening communicating with saidrecess, said opening being of lesser width than the exterior lateraldimension of the sleeve, each of said sleeves further including aradially enlarged annular shoulder adapted to rest upon an upper surfaceof the retaining bracket to fix the sleeve longitudinally with respectto the hinge rod and the bracket, each of said sleeves being slidableupwardly for a distance longitudinally of each hinge rod to clear saidretaining bracket, each of said hinge rods having a diameter less thanthe Width of said opening such that sliding of the sleeve upwardly outof the recess in the bracket and lifting of a hinge rod from itsassociated bearing cup permits the hinge rod to be shifted laterallyfrom the recess whereby each of said creel sections may be removed fromthe loom.

5. A loom comprising a frame for support of warp threads and a creel forsupport of weft thread spools, said frame including two bearing cup andtwo retaining brackets at opposite sides of said frame, said creelincluding two symmetrically arranged sections and separate hinge meanscoupling said sections to said frame at opposite sides thereof forrotation about substantially vertical axes whereby said sections mayswing apart away from operative relation to said loom frame, saidseparate hinge means including each a hinge rod borne in one of saidbearing cups and engaged in one of said brackets, said loom furthercomprising releasable means to secure said sections adjacent each otherin operative relation to said loom frame.

6. A loom according to claim 5 wherein each of said brackets includes arecess having an open mouth of width greater than the diameter of saidhinge rods and in which each of said hinge rods carries a sleeve ofdiameter larger than said width, whereby said hinge rods may be removedfrom said brackets for withdrawal of their respective creel sectionsfrom said loom frame after lifting said sleeves out of said recesses.

7. A loom comprising a frame for support of warp threads and a creel forsupport of weft thread spools, said creel including two symmetricallyarranged sections, at least two weft thread spools on each of saidsections, and separate hinge means coupling said sections to said frameat opposite sides thereof for non-interfering rotation of said sectionssimultaneously about substantially vertical axes between an operatingposition for both of said sections adjacent said frame and aninoperative position for both of said sections remote from said frame.

8. A loom according to claim 7 including means detachablyinterconnecting said creel sections when in said operating position.

9. A loom according to claim 7 wherein each of said creel sectionsincludes latch means engageable with said frame to hold such creelsection in operating position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jan.31, 1959

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A LOOM WHICH INCLUDES A FRAME FOR SUPPORTING AHEDDLE, A REED, A SHUTTLE, AND WARP AND CLOTH BEAMS, WHEREIN MOVEMENT OFSAID HEEDLE DEFINES A SHED FOR THE INSERTION OF A WEFT THREADTHERETHROUGH BY TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF THE SHUTTLE WITH RESPECT TO APLURALITY OF WARP THREADS EXTENDING INTERMEDIATE THE WARP AND CLOTHBEAMS, A CREEL COMPRISING TWO VERTICAL HINGE RODS POSITIONED ADJACENT TOONE SIDE OF SAID LOOM FRAME, A HORIZONTAL SUPPORT RAIL RIGIDLY CONNECTEDTO EACH OF SAID HINGE RODS AND DEFINING THEREWITH A CREEL SECTION, APLURALITY OF SUPPORTING ARMS FOR MOUNTING INDIVIDUALLY UPON EACH ARM AWEFT SPOOL, SAID ARMS EACH BEING CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID RAILS, ABEARING CUP CONNECTED TO A LOWER PORTION OF SAID LOOM FRAME FORRECEIVING THE LOWER END OF EACH OF SAID HINGE RODS, A SLEEVE SLIDABLEUPON AN UPPER PORTION OF EACH OF SAID RODS, A RETAINING BRACKET SECUREDTO THE SIDE OF SAID LOOM FRAME TO HOLD EACH OF SAID SLEEVES, ARESPECTIVE SET OF SAID BEARING CUPS, HINGE RODS, SLEEVES, AND RETAININGBRACKETS COMPRISING HINGE ELEMENTS PERMITTING SWINGING MOVEMENT OF EACHOF SAID CREEL SECTIONS TOWARD AN OPERATING POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THELOOM AND AWAY FROM SAID OPERATING POSITION TO PERMIT ACCESS TO THE LOOM,AND MEANS FOR INTERLOCKING SAID CREEL SECTIONS IN ADJOINING RELATIONWHEN IN SAID OPERATING POSITION.